In the News
October 1 - October 18, 2006
IBC Board Decisions Based On Providing Home for Resident Teacher
The IBC Board met on Friday, October 7, 2006 for its monthly meeting at the home of Clifton and Julie Carmody to discuss the on-going plans for establishing the Indiana Buddhist Center in the Indianapolis area with the primary emphasis on providing a home for our resident teacher, Geshe Jinpa Sonam, affectionately known by his students as Geshe-la.
Supporting Geshe-la means that we provide him with a clean and stable living environment, food, and other basic necessities. In addition, board members asserted how important it is that IBC continue to provide Geshe-la with a translator. This is critical to his teachings. While our translator, Tenam Namgyal provides translation at a minimal cost, it is still an expense that is paid for through IBC donations.
In addition, Geshe-la is supporting seven of his young students in India attempting to provide basic necessities such as food and shelter for them. When we support Geshe-la we are in effect supporting the monastic tradition that will keep Tibetan Buddhist teachings alive in the West for many years to come.
It is no exaggeration that IBC and Geshe-la depend on the support of all students and supporters for most of its income. Additional funds are raised through fund raisers such as the yard sale that was held this past weekend and small auctions that are held once or twice a year at IBC gatherings. However, the primary support for our teacher is the generosity of his students.
There are many ways to contribute…save change (you can pick up a Mason jar at the Center), bring your used printer cartridges to the center…we’ll recycle them and collect a dollar or two for each! You see, even the smallest contribution will help keep our teacher here. For information on how you can help, click here.
As always everyone is welcome. Donations are never expected but always appreciated.
IBC Members Meet with Arijia Rinpoche at TCC Pema Festival
Many IBC members met with Arijia Rinpoche at the TCC Pema Festival in Bloomington on Sunday, October 8. The meeting was arranged by our resident teacher Geshe Jinpa Sonam and gave members an opportunity to meet and speak directly with the Rinpoche who thanked us for supporting Geshe-la. He said, “Helping Geshe-la helps everyone in Indiana!”
Rinpoche went on to offer the hospitality of TCC to all of Geshe-la’s students. He hopes that TCC will feel like "home" to all Indiana Buddhists and supporters.
At the beginning of the informal meeting, Geshe Jinpa presented Rinpoche with a beautiful framed silk
Another topic that Rinpoche discussed was making a distinction between our two groups. He noted that TCC is a cultural center, while IBC is a religious center. Those wanting more information about Tibet and Tibetan Culture will find it at TCC. Those wishing to practice Buddhism with a spiritual master are encouraged to attend IBC teachings.
Geshe-la then requested Rinpoche to help IBC with getting a formal meeting with His Holiness when he comes to Bloomington in 2007 or 2008.
At the conclusion of the meeting IBC members made kata offerings to Rinpoche and received his blessings.
IBC Pledge Goals at the Half-way Mark
Thanks to IBC Members and the students and friends of IBC, as of October 15, 2006, the current pledge amount for the support of our resident teacher, Geshe Jinpa Sonam, has reached the $720.00 per month mark.
We are almost half-way to our goal of $1500.00 which will not only cover the cost of providing a good home, food, and other necessities for our precious resident teacher of Geshe Jinpa Sonam, but will also help to provide for medical attention, medical insurance, lawyer fees (for establishing residency in the US), and other incidentals as they arise.
"Thanks so much to everyone that has become a new member of IBC and/or pledged monthly support to Geshe Jinpa. Every little bit counts, and all donations (no matter what the size) are very precious because they will help us to spread the Dharma in Indiana and beyond," says Becky Russell, IBC Secretary.
Becky also would like to note that she will be shipping IBC mugs and membership packets to out-of-town members very soon.
Notes on Geshe-la’s Lam Rim Teachings For October 15, 2006
If you missed the teaching, read a student’s notes here .
Maitreya Heart Relic Tour Photos Now Available
Thanks to Julie Carmody,
a new Photo Album
featuring the Maitreya Heart Relic Tour is now available.
IBC was incredibly fortunate to co-host the Maitreya Project Heart Shrine Relic Tour this August in the Indianapolis area. Our co-host was the An Loc Temple in Indianapolis which actually housed the Relics during the tour here.
The Maitreya Heart Relic Tour is a touring collection of Buddha's relics, special pearl-like objects that are discovered in the cremated remains of realized mediators and Buddhist saints. These relics posses a powerful spiritual energy which emanates a presence of vast peace, loving kindness, and healing.
These relics are manifestations of the Buddha himself, so they are the product of three countless great aeons' practice of charity, morality, patience, perseverance, concentration and so forth. They are the result of having completed the two types of merit and achieved enlightenment only to benefit other sentient beings, including us.